Black fraternities, sororities ask voters to Feel The Power

Registration rally Sunday in Third Ward

Published 5:30 am, Thursday, July 8, 2004

Members of several historically black fraternities and sororities will be out in force Sunday in the Third Ward to register voters at Riverside Park at Calumet and Ennis.

The Greek Fest Rally 2004, Feel The Power event, presented by the Houston Chapter of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, will feature games, moonwalks and guest speakers.

The National Pan-Hellenic Council, which is made up of African-American Greek organizations, announced earlier this year that it would launch a campaign to register voters. The organization teamed up with the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation to carry out its mission of increasing the number of registered voters and people who vote throughout the country.

"We are embarking upon an ambitious national effort to usher unregistered and uncommitted members of our community to the polls in 2004," said National President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Houston attorney Harry E. Johnson.

Johnson revealed how the council plans on tackling the issue of getting more voters to the polls. He said members will help transport people to polling places, educate the community about the ballot, and team up with churches and other nonprofit organizations to drum up support.

Attorney J. Goodwille Pierre of the Texas Unlock Your Vote Campaign, and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, said as community leaders, it is their duty "to empower and educate as many people as possible to ensure a fair election."